Llanberis, Wales

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Atmospheric and cheerfully unchanged mountaineers' haunt in the wilds of Snowdonia, run by the same family since 1947; bedrooms

Memorably placed beneath Snowdon and the Glyders, this family-run mountain inn is packed with items left by the climbing fraternity. You can still make out the fading signatures scrawled on the ceiling by the 1953 Everest team, who used this as a training base, and on display is the very rope that connected Hillary and Tenzing on top of the mountain. One snug little room in the homely slate-floored log cabin bar has built-in wall benches and sturdy country chairs. From here you can look out to precipitous Moel Siabod beyond the lake opposite. A smaller room has a worthy collection of illustrious boots from famous climbs, while a cosy panelled smoke room has more fascinating climbing mementoes and equipment; darts, pool, board games, skittles, bar billiards and table tennis. Purple Moose Glaslyn and Madogs are on handpump and they have several malts. Staying in the comfortable but basic bedrooms can be quite an experience, and there's an excellent traditional breakfast (served 8.30-9am, though they may serve earlier); dogs £5 a night. The inn has its own chapel (built for the millennium and dedicated by the Archbishop of Wales), sauna and outdoor natural pool, and the garden overlooks a lake.

Good Pub Guide Food

Bar food times: 12 - 2; evening meal 7.30pm

Restaurant times: evening

The short choice of simple, good-value lunchtime food includes rolls, ploughman's, pies, salads, and quiche of the day as well as daily specials such as roast beef. The hearty three- or five-course set meal in the evening restaurant is signalled by a gong at 7.30pm (if you're late, you'll miss it): maybe chicken liver pâté or smoked salmon followed by loin of pork with leeks, cannellini beans and cream, beef in ale pie or salmon fillet with hollandaise and puddings such as banoffi pie or chocolate bread and butter pudding.

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Good Pub Guide Information

Awards

Good pubguide approved

Stay Award

Information

Sandwiches

Cask Ales

Meals and Snacks

Credit Cards

Dog allowedin: Dogs Anywhere

Rating and Comments

2.9/5

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Doug Kennedy

April 12th 2011

What a glorious place this is! It never changes, and the beer, atmosphere and staff are as good as ever. Couldn't stay there this time as it was full with a party. Worth a visit just for the experience, especially when it's busy with climbers at the end of the day.